title: Approach to syncope and altered mental status.
abstract: Children who present with an episode of altered mental status, whether transient or persistent, present a diagnostic challenge for practitioners. This article describes some of the more common causes of altered mental status and delineates a rational approach to these patients. This will help practitioners recognize the life-threatening causes of these frightening presentations as well as help avoid unnecessary testing for the more benign causes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Carolinas Healthcare System, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, 3rd Floor Medical Education Building, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA. Electronic address: Emily.macneill@carolinas.org.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: MacNeill
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vashist
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Pediatric; Persistent altered mental status; Seizure; Syncope; Transient altered mental status